On Sept. 21, 2025, six-year-old Darius MacDougall vanished from a public tenting space close to the Alberta-British Columbia border within the Crowsnest Cross.
Virtually without delay, police, search and rescue crews and different first responders started a full-scale search of the mountainous terrain in an effort to seek out Darius.
Now, one 12 months later, with no solutions, Darius’ household has returned to that tenting spot, holding out hope that he’s nonetheless on the market, someplace.
“Darius, we nonetheless love you, miss you. We’re by no means going to cease trying to find you, buddy,” mentioned Leslie Tallmadge, Darius’ grandfather. “I come right here and I stroll and I look, (I’d) look wherever for you.”
The search effort was in depth, with drones, canines, helicopters and tons of of crew members, together with specialised groups reminiscent of underwater divers, all collaborating within the hopes of discovering Darius.
After greater than per week, RCMP known as the search off.
On Monday, one 12 months after Darius went lacking, officers launched an announcement saying they haven’t stopped their investigation.
“The Alberta RCMP acknowledges that Darius’ disappearance continues to weigh closely on his household and those that know and love him. The passage of time doesn’t reduce the significance of discovering solutions, and investigators stay dedicated to pursuing info that will assist carry readability to what occurred to Darius.”
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They are saying investigators stay targeted on reviewing info, pursuing viable leads and figuring out any info that will assist present solutions about Darius’ disappearance.
“To this point, RCMP has obtained simply over 70 suggestions from the general public relating to this investigation, and each tip was totally investigated. Sadly, none have led to discovering Darius. Nonetheless, we are going to proceed to research.”
For Darius’ household, the priority is that he was by no means misplaced within the mountains, however kidnapped as an alternative.
“Any individual needed to have taken him. There’s simply been too many individuals out right here, too many searches to not discover something. To me, any individual as come and brought him,” mentioned Tina Herron, Darius’ grandmother.
Tallmadge agrees, believing search crews exhausting all efforts ought to have yielded outcomes.
“11 days straight with 200 plus searchers on daily basis — there’s no approach we missed something,” mentioned Tallmadge.
On the time, RCMP mentioned there was no proof of a kidnapping and an Amber Alert was by no means issued, one thing that has by no means sat properly with Herron.
“Regardless of who it’s, it’s a toddler. They need to have an Amber Alert, whether or not it meets the factors or not, he ought to have it.”
A number of days after Darius went lacking, a Change.org petition was began to alter how Amber Alerts are issued.
As of Monday, it has greater than 20,000 signatures.
Darius could be seven years previous now and his household remains to be urging anybody with any info to contact RCMP.
“When you see one thing or you recognize one thing, name the police. He’s on the market someplace. When you see him, name the police,” mentioned Tallmadge.
RCMP have the identical public message.
“The Alberta RCMP continues to encourage anybody who might have details about Darius’ disappearance or whereabouts to come back ahead. You may contact the Crowsnest Cross RCMP at 403-562-2866. Info that will appear insignificant may very well be necessary to the investigation, and investigators will assess any new info offered.”
On Tuesday night, a candlelight vigil can be held at Lethbridge Metropolis Corridor to carry larger consciousness to the continuing search efforts for Darius MacDougall.
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